Orlando Magic would like to play overseas next October or next regular season

December 14, 2013|By Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel

If Orlando Magic executives' wish is granted, they'll play at least one game overseas either next preseason or next regular season.

Magic CEO Alex Martins said NBA executives know the Magic would like to go overseas either in October 2014 or during the 2014-15 regular season.

"We've expressed our desire to go, and we'll just have to wait and see the teams they want to send and where," Martins told the Orlando Sentinel.

Team officials view a trip overseas as a good marketing opportunity for the Magic and for Amway Corp., which was co-founded by the Magic's principal owner, Rich DeVos.

The Magic were scheduled to play two games in London during the 2011-12 regular season, but the league had to cancel those games because a labor dispute forced the league to truncate and compress its schedule.

In October 2012, the Magic played a preseason exhibition in Mexico City.

This season, a record 12 NBA teams were scheduled to play eight preseason games and two regular-season games outside of the United States and Canada.

A regular-season game was scheduled to be held on Dec. 4 in Mexico City, but the game had to be canceled because a broken generator outside the arena created smoke inside the arena. Another regular-season game is scheduled for Jan. 16 in London.

First meeting

On Sunday, Magic rookie Victor Oladipo will play against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Thunder's All-Star guard, Russell Westbrook, for the first time.

It's a milestone of sorts because Oladipo often is compared to Westbrook.

Oladipo was a shooting guard in college who often plays point guard, and Westbrook successfully made the same transition when he reached the NBA.

"It's going to be interesting to watch him, definitely to go up against him," Oladipo said. "I've been watching him for a long time, since he's been in the league. It's crazy how much better he's gotten. So it's going to be a tough assignment. I guess I'm the man for the job."

Oladipo is aware of the position change Westbrook made.

"He turned himself into a point guard," Oladipo said. "I've been watching film on him since I've been in college. So it's going to be fun to go up against him and, of course, Kevin [Durant], too."

Oladipo's and Westbrook's statistics through the first 23 regular-season games of their pro careers are similar.